Our neighbors, Erik and Megan invited us over for dinner and pumpkin carving. They’re such great friends and their family is such a blessing to our lives. They have two kids; Colby, age 2 and Bennett, 3 months old. Colby can throw 90 mph fastballs, leap tall buildings and is indestructible. Pure boy. Bennett is the sweetest little guy, a little bean that’s so pure and innocent. Anyhow, the Pretty One and I strolled over (we’ve worn a path between our two homes) and watched the kids, Erik and Colby, carve pumpkins. It’s times like these that I wish I could remember what it was like when our kids were that age. Time rips by without regard for our wishes or desires, it’s a train blowing through town and it’s not stopping for anyone… Anyhow the kids came out just fine, apparently my ability to recollect pumpkin carving has no bearing on what kind of person they turn out to be. I couldn’t be more proud of them.
So, as usual, I am rambling. Here are some pictures of a couple of wonderful, innocent kids. One hasn’t a care in the world, all he wants is to be held. The other’s only concern is his pumpkin and fireman costume. Here’s to being a kid and being loved by those around you, it doesn’t get any better.
Getting Busy
Very scary....
Colby, Bennett and Megan
No comment needed...
Too bad he's not having fun
Just chillin'...
The final inspection
Megan holding Bennett
What a great day. Suzanne and Michael’s wedding in Pescadero. Summer on the coast, happy people everywhere. Love in the air, family, friends, food, drink, music… How does it get any better?
This is why I love what I do. I’m a sucker for this romance stuff, (I always get choked up during the father-daughter dance…. Someday that will be me and my angel) There is so much joy and love where ever you look. Anyhow, as much as I love doing this, I couldn’t have done it without Jo Ann. (Understatement of the year…) I love shooting weddings with her, she’s so gifted. I can’t believe I ever shot a wedding without her…
Anyhow, as I’m writing this, the Pretty One and I just ticked off another year. We’ve been married 28 years (and a few days now) and as I watch Michael dip Suzanne for “The Kiss” I am so honored to be there. I know where this goes, I’ve seen this movie before and I’m so excited for them. I think marriage is a roller coaster. There’s the wait in line, wishing it would get here soon. The boring part where you’re slowly pulled uphill, waiting for the fun stuff. Then the rush of wind in your face as you crest the top and scream for joy. You’re flying along, having the time of your life when suddenly that hard turn that comes out of nowhere and snaps you around. Once, twice, taking you places you didn’t imagine. Some you like, some you don’t. But you stick it out and eventually the ride comes back around to where you started and that’s when she kisses you and you know that getting on this ride was the right thing to do.
And you never want to get off.
Thanks for letting me ramble. Here are a few images from their day.
welcome
some details
an invitation
One of the nicest guys you will ever meet
Could she be any prettier? Any nicer?
His and hers...
Needs no comment...
That's love.
The reception
The happy couple
Good times
Does anyone else hear Etta James signing "At Last"?
Thanks for letting me be a part of your day.
I’m having problems with posting, so this is a test…
ALMOST THREE MONTHS!!!
Since the last time I updated my blog. Since then I’ve gotten to do a bunch ‘o cool stuff, but you’d never ever know it, because I’m lame when it comes to this stuff.
I suck at updating my blog. But I saw this and thought what better reason to break out of my slump. Although it has nothing to do with weddings, love, couples, hanky-panky or photography it should put a smile on your face. Enjoy and thanks for sticking around.
I’m the lucky guy that gets to shoot Suzanne and Michael’s wedding this September. They’re getting married at a friend’s farm near the coast and it’s going to be amazing. How can it not be? Look at them. We shot the engagement pictures in their backyard with the help of Luna and Ernest, two very good dogs. The dogs behaved better than Suzanne and Michael; hard to be a serious photographer when the two of them are constantly making each other laugh, kissing, holding hands… They have too much fun together. Anyhow, we left the backyard and went to the Yuba River, then it was off to California’s oldest covered bridge. Along the way, I saw this old building next to a field and the light looked so warm and inviting. I asked if we could stop and get some pictures and that’s where the last couple were shot. They are so perfect for each other, it’s going to be a joy being around them. Enjoy these for now, I’ll put up some more in the next week or so. Thanks Suzanne and Michael for being so much fun to be around.
“How delicious is the winning of a kiss at love’s beginning.” I think this quote by Thomas Campbell sums up this last picture.
As always, I appreciate you stopping by. Thanks!
Spring is here and with it comes the start of the wedding season. Slowly the calender is filling up and I’m getting excited for all of my couples. I love hearing about their plans and dreams. I sort of remember ours, I guess that’s what 27 years of marriage will do to you. The details get pushed out of the way to make way for new details. Sometimes they’re replaced by bigger memories and sometimes it’s the smaller ones that win out. I remember that I couldn’t believe I was going to spend the rest of my life with the beautiful woman asleep in the car, sitting next to me as we drove up the coast for our honeymoon.
Next weekend I have the honor of capturing Jackie and Brad’s wedding. I love this part, the anticipation and planning. All the things I want to do, the shots I want and how I’ll deal with the fading light. So that 27 years from now, they’ll look back and remember bits and pieces about the day they started out as a couple, husband and wife. Here a few pictures from their engagement session. Thanks for reading this and have a great day.
on their way...
A few years ago, The Pretty One and I were looking at lots in Truckee. We’ve been coming up here for years visiting her parents in Tahoe and decided we wanted something of our own for the future. Long story short, the guy selling it had priced it too low and it became affordable for us so we jumped on it. We didn’t do much with it for a year or so and then one day we just decided to build a house. We took a year or so interviewing architects and found a great one, Ted Brobst of Ward Young. Ted took all of our likes and dislikes and put together a unique and beautiful home for us, far exceeding anything we had ever dreamed possible. The next step was finding a builder. Ted had lined up a handful of contractors for us to interview and midway through, we met Gabe Shacter and felt like he was the guy for us. Gabe built the home Ted designed for us and everyday we find some new detail or example of his workmanship that sets him apart from the crowd as a true craftsman.
Anyhow, forty-eight hours ago it was raining and all of the snow had melted away, leaving brown dirt, grass and puddles. As quick as the rain came in, it moved on, making way for a cold front that dumped three feet of snow in twenty four hours. I woke up this morning, walked to the sliding door in our room and saw this:
I took a couple more shots of the house in the snow. This was the view from the window by our bed:
I ran into town this afternoon and took these next two at the end of a beautiful day. The front of our home, please marvel at the snow free driveway. It only took 2 1/2 hours to clear this morning.
This is the back of the house.
Thanks for letting us share these with you. We’re proud of the house and love it. Come by some time…
I had the wonderful opportunity to capture the last days of Jen’s pregnancy because their little guy Mason arrived a couple of days after the photo shoot. I love maternity pictures and I wish we had some from when The Pretty One was pregnant. She was so beautiful.
Nine months goes by so fast for something so remarkable. (I guess for the guy it goes by fast. Rita Rudner said “Life is tough enough without having someone kick you from the inside.” I might have a different opinion if I had to go through it) I’m in the camp that thinks pregnant women are so attractive; I think it’s so feminine and giving. Anyhow, here are a few pictures from our time together.
I’m sending a note off to one of my brides and in closing, I mindlessly wished her a Happy Valentine’s day. I stopped for a moment and thought about it. How fun for them to celebrate Valentine’s day for the first time as a married couple. It takes on a whole new meaning. I thought of the last year, Monica & Guillermo, Shun & Peter, Destinee & Hanalei, Staci & Don, Angie & Chris, Jessica and Raimo, Kacie and Aidan and I realized I’m such a lucky guy. There’s something to be said for surrounding yourself with people who are in love. This is one of those cool things I never thought about when wedding photography came my way. I initially geeked out on the gear and the planning but I never thought I’d watch the guys get choked up when they talk about their brides. I didn’t think about the genuine concern when Don stands quietly by Staci with his arm around her and he says “What do you want?”
Sometimes it seems like there aren’t many gentlemen left out there. Then I sit and watch Aidan listen to Kacie while she tells me about the little details. I watch Guillermo get up from his seat when Monica returns to the table and I’m hopeful. As Jonathan takes off his sweater and drapes it over Annie’s shoulders on a cool evening I think to myself that these guys are doing a good job.
Chivalry isn’t dead, it’s alive and well and I’m surrounded by it. Picasso said, “Love is the greatest refreshment in life.” And he was right; I drink it in when I’m around my couples. It moves me and I want my wife by my side. I want her hand in mine and I want to enjoy these quiet, simple moments with her.
Drink up, take it all in and enjoy. Happy Valentine’s day.
'nuf said...
Camille at work making pizzas
Heaven...
The Party.
Watching history
Greg on the left, Mike on the right
Augustine
Jenn the birthday girl...
Geena
Nancy and Bernhard
Nancy and Christine
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